Vacuum spring control apparatus



Jan. 7, 1964 P, FRANCIS VACUUM SPRING CONTROL APPARATUS OriginalFiled Oct. 14. 1960 INVENTOR.

0 f l BY f ffl/2; f .a/202.9 WWW/ A fron/vs y i? ya LW United States Patent O Sdiel VACUUM SERNG CNTRGEL APPARATUFQ Eiiilip L. Francis, Rochester, Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware riginal application Get. ld, 1960, Ser. No. 62,742, new Patent No. 3,943,361, dated Aug. '7, 1962;. Divided and this application Fel). 19, 1962, Ser. No. 2174,(l2

3 Claims. (Cl. 267-65) This application is a division of Serial No. 62,742, led October 14, 1960, now Patent No. 3,048,361.

This invention relates to vehicle suspension and more particularly to suspension of the type utilizing self-leveling vacuum energized auxiliary springs for maintaining the sprung mass of the vehicle at a constant height irrespective of load.

Among the many advantages derived from use of vacuum energized auxiliary springs for vehicle suspension is the fact that the subatrnospheric pressure required for energization may be taken directly from the engine manifold and therefore eliminates the usually substantial additional cost factor involved in providing a separate source of fluid pressure for variable rate springs of other types. However, under certain transient conditions of operation, engine manifold vacuum may drop below the level of vacuum in the auxiliary spring required to maintain the vehicle at the desired trim height. This condition could occur, for example, when the vehicle is traversing undulating steep terrain, causing the engine to lug and the wheels to dellect a substantial distance at relatively frequent intervals. Under such conditions, since the level of vacuum in the auxiliary spring is controlled by a height sensing valve, relatively frequent rebound of the suspension will cause the spring to lose the vacuum level required to maintain the vehicle at the desired trim height, while the engine load is such that insufficient vacuum is generated to restore the vacuum level when the spring is in the compression position.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum energized load leveling auxiliary spring for vehicle suspension.

A further object is to provide a vacuum spring and control apparatus therefor in which creation and depletion of Vacuum in the spring varies in accordance with the level of vacuum available from the source thereof.

A still further object is to provide a control device for a vacuum spring which regulates communication between the vacuum spring and atmosphere in such a way that bleeding of air into the spring is prevented when the level of vacuum available from the source is low, but allows bleeding of air from atmosphere when the level of vacuum available for the source is normal.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type described which discriminates between a low vacuum source level and the total absence of vacuum at the source.

Yet a further object is to provide a device of the stated character in which bleeding of air from atmosphere into the vacuum spring is permitted when no vacuum exists at the source.

Still a further object is to provide a vacuum operated control valve which functions to allow ilow under conditions of either no vacuum or a relatively high vacuum, but prevents ow under conditions of low vacuum.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings wherein:

FlG. l is a schematic view of a vacuum energized vehicle spring of the self-leveling type having associated therewith a vacuum modulated air bleed control device in Pice accordance with the present invention, showing the details 0i construction of the vacuum modulated control device when no vacuum exists at the source thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the vacuum modulated control, showing the relative position of the parts when the level of vacuum available from the source is at a normal level; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the relative position of the parts when the vacuum available from the source is low but not completely absent.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. l, there is shown a vacuum energized spring 2 and control device d therefor. Spring 2 includes a cup-shaped cylinder 6 which is pivotally attached at its lower end by trunnions 8 to the sprung mass 9 of a vehicle, not shown. Cylinder 6 has reciprocably disposed therein an inverted cup-shaped piston itl, the diameter of which is somewhat less than the internal diameter of cylinder 6. A fiexible diaphragm l2 overlies piston l@ and has its outer periphery M secured to the hanged open upper end l5 of cylinder 6. Diaphragm l2 includes an intermediate annular depending convolution 13 which overlaps the radially adjacent side walls of piston it and cylinder 6 to provide a closed cavity 20 adapted to contain varying degrees of subatmospheric pressure. Piston itl, in turn, has attached thereto a depending piston rod 2.2 which is slidably received in a sleeve portion 24 formed in the base of cylinder 6. Rod 22 extends downwardly through cylinder 6 and is articulatably connected by a iiexible joint 26 to the unsprung mass 28 of the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the level of subatmospheric pressure in cavity Ztl is automatically varied in accordance with the load applied to the sprung mass as a direct function of relative displacement between the piston li) and cylinder 6 by the provision of a port 30 in the wall of cylinder 6 and a port 32 in the wall of piston lib. When the vehicle is at normal standing height, ports 3i) and 32 are horizontally aligned and are simultaneously overlapped by the lower lobe portion 34 of diaphragm i3, with the result that the vacuum line or conduit 36 leading to the engine manifold, not shown, and air bleed conduit 3S leading to atmosphere are simultaneously blocked. It will be apparent that substantial deflection of piston 10 in one direction will uncover port 3? and allow increase in the vacuum level, while substantial deflection of the piston in the opposite direction will uncover port 32 to permit air to bleed from atmosphere and reduce the level of subatmospheric pressure in the spring. Thus, the vacuum level in the spring varies in accordance with the load applied and therefore maintains the vehicle at a constant trim height. It will be understood, however, that the specific form of leveling control described is for purposes of illustration only, any other form being equally adaptable to the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the normal selfeveling operation of the vacuum energized spring just described is overridden by the vacuum modulated control device 4 whenever the engine manifold Vacuum drops below a predetermined level. As will be evident from FlG. l, control device 4 is connected to the engine manifold by a branch conduit d2 and to the atmosphere bleed tube 3d of the vacuum spring by a iexible conduit dit.

As seen best in FlGS. l, 2 and 3, control device 4 includes a cylindrical cup-shaped housing 46 in which is disposed an inner cup-shaped piston 48 having attached thereto a depending valve element 5d adapted for seating engagement with an O-ring 52 disposed in the mouth of a passage S4 which in turn is connected to conduit d4. An inner llexible diaphragm 5S overlies the bottom wall 6@ of piston 48 and has its outer peripheral edge 62 clamped between the annular ledge 6ft of housing and a ilanged cylindrical member 66 which surrounds piston 43 in concentric relation therewith. The intermediate portion 68 of diaphragm 58 forms an upwardly directed convolution extending between the radially adjacent walls of cylinder 66 and piston 48. An outer inverted cupshaped piston 7i) is disposed over' cylinder 66 in concentric relation therewith and is connected to piston 4S by toggle linkage '72. An outer diaphragm 74 overies the top wall "76 of piston 7i) and has its peripheral edge To? clamped between abutting iianges 8i) and 32 of housing te and housing cover plate Sd, respectively. The intermediate annular portion 36 of diaphragm 74 forms a downwardly directed convolution which overlaps the radially adjacent side walls of piston '75l and housing 4e. A small diameter coil spring S8 is disposed in compression between piston 4S and piston 7G, while a large diameter coil spring 9d is disposed in compression between piston 7l) and the flange 92 of cylinder 66. In accordance with the invention, the rate of spring @il is such that it yields in compression when a vacuum of approximately 1 inch of mercury, introduced through conduit d2, acts on piston 70. The rate of spring 88, however, is selected so that upward movement of piston 4S is prevented until the vacuum within housing 46 reaches a level of approximately inches of mercury.

In order that the invention will be more fully understood, description of the sequence of operation thereof follows. Assume rst that the vehicle engine, not shown, is not operating. Under this condition, there will obviously be no vacuum in the engine manifold and hence none will be created in either conduit 42 or housing 45. Consequently, spring 9i? will bias piston 7d upwardly until arrested by cover plate 34. Simultaneously, toggle link 72 is extended to its full vertical length and carries piston 4S upwardly sufficient to withdraw valve 5l? from O-ring 52. As a result, conduit 44 is placed in communication with atmosphere through bleed holes 94 in housing 46. Therefore, whenever the vehicle engine is not running, control device 4 exerts no overriding influence and the vacuum in spring Z is entirely a function of the relative positions of ports 3d and 32 with respect to the adjacent diaphragm. Assume now that the vehicle engine has been started and is operating under a low load which permits the manifold to produce at least l5 inches of mercury in conduit 42. Under this condition, the vacuum level is greater than the resistance of both springs Sii and 90 and therefore, as shown in FG. 2, piston itl will be drawn downwardly in opposition to coil spring 9i?, while piston 4S will be drawn upwardly with opposition to coil spring 88 so that the clearance between valve 56 and seat S2 is maintained and thereby allows normal bleeding or atmosphere into the spring cylinder whenever the displaced position thereof opens port 32.

Assume now that the vehicle has encountered operating conditions wherein the engine is under sumciently heavy load to reduce the manifold vacuum to a relatively low level, and that the vacuum spring 2 is deiiecting at relatively frequent intervals a distance suicient to uncover port 32 and cause bleeding of air from atmosphere into the cavity 20. Under these conditions, the relatively low level of vacuum in conduit 42 causes the control device to assume the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the piston 7l) is drawn downwardly against spring 90, but the level of vacuum in housing 46 is insufficient to overcome spring 8S and piston 43 therefore remains in the downward position causing valve Si) to seat firmly on O- ring 52 and prevent communication between conduit 44 and atmosphere via bleed holes d4. Consequently, as long as the stated operating condition continues, the vacuum level existing in the spring 2 at the inception of the condition will be maintained irrespective of whether port 32 is covered or uncovered by deflection of piston 1) relative to cylinder 6. Naturally, as soon as normal engine manifold vacuum resumes, spring S8 will be overcome and the control device will assume the position shown in FIG. 2 which restores normal operation of leveling entirely controlled by ports 36 and 32.

While but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other changes and modications may be made therein. lt is, therefore, to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment shown, but only by the scope of the claims which follow.

l claim:

1. In combination with an engine manifold generated source of vacuum, a vacuum energized spring, valve means for regulating communication between said spring and said vacuum source, additional valve means for regulating communication between said spring and atmosphere, and source vacuum sensitive master valve means disposed between said additional valve means and atmosphere acting to override the action of the latter when the vacuum level at said source falls within a predetermined range.

2. In combination with an engine manifold generated source of vacuum, a vacuum energized spring, valve means for regulating communication between said spring and said vacuum source, additional valve means for regulating communication between said spring and atmosphere, and source vacuum sensitive master valve means disposed between said additional valve means and atmosphere acting to override the action of the latter when the vacuum level at said source falls within a predetermined range less than the normal vacuum level therefor.

3. In combination with a variable source of vacuum, a vacuum energized spring, valve means for regulating communication between said spring and said vacuum source, additional valve means for regulating communication between said spring and atmosphere, and source vacuum modulated master valve means disposed between said additional valve means and atmosphere acting to override the action of the latter when the vacuum level at said source falls within a predetermined range, said master valve means permitting normal operation of said additional valve means when the vacuum level at said source falls below or rises above said predetermined range.

References Cited in the '[iie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,551 Dolza Apr. 25, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN ENGINE MANIFOLD GENERATED SOURCE OF VACUUM, A VACUUM ENERGIZED SPRING, VALVE MEANS FOR REGULATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SPRING AND SAID VACUUM SOURCE, ADDITIONAL VALVE MEANS FOR REGULATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SPRING AND ATMOSPHERE, AND SOURCE VACUUM SENSITIVE MASTER VALVE MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ADDITIONAL VALVE MEANS AND ATMOSPHERE ACTING TO OVERRIDE THE ACTION OF THE LATTER WHEN THE VACUUM LEVEL AT SAID SOURCE FALLS WITHIN A PREDETERMINED RANGE. 